Good evening zoo. I'm sorry I'm hardly ever here. So busy, so distracted, and at the moment, having another poorly episode and have very little energy. Just removed another spammer - this one was on about fish Endless opportunity for fish puns though! Maybe a phisher, trawling the forums worldwide . . . ?

Hello Gráinne! I think it would be best to put this topic elsewhere and, if you haven't already, to let the zookeepers know you are doing some research and asking our volunteers. Let me drop them a line too, and I'll give this post its own topic somewhere and let you know.

While this topic's carrying everyday news, it seems a good place to suggest this space pictures exhibition in Greenwich as a possible venue? I've been once and would delightedly go again - it is utterly beautiful. If people feel it's appropriate I'll start a new topic for it.

Aaawwww pants, we missed the rockets! Thank you so much for the green plastic bowls to eat the bean salad with, John - they made it a lot easier. Was good to see you too. Yes, Elaine arrived after you left.

Well, here are Hanny and Steven (have I spelled that right? Is it the same in Dutch and English?) talking, while Todd takes a picture of me taking a picture of him taking a picture of me taking a picture of him taking a . . . . *runs out of breath*

Repeat process with BP, and Tommy next to him. Elaine and Toivo facing away.

A happy Hanny and Steven

Toivo and Elaine. Incidentally, Toivo and I would have been a bit earlier to the picnic, but while he was waiting for me a small child came up to him and told him he'd lost his mum! So when I arrived, Toivo and the little boy waited at the statue while I went into the RGO buildings to ask the shop assistants and security folks if they'd had any worried mothers in. Fortunately, the mother turned up pretty fast.

BP and Tommy. Tommy was so pleased with his Astrofest birthday presents and card - thank you Jules for organising and Geoff for hanging onto them all this time!

Smiley Rona

Shiny dog with lovely silky head and ears! (There was quite a dog-debate when about four dogs were outside at once! )

Juliane, Infinity and Rona. I was just trying to capture Rona kissing Infinity's cheek, but my phone was too slow . . .

. . . so Hanny filled in the gap.

Geoff appears to have had plenty of C2H5OH judging by all those empty glasses. Thank you so much for saving me some biltong, Geoff!

Suntodd

Elaine keeping her beer carefully under wraps

After the pub, Elaine and I went on a quick walk to see the Cutty Sark and to see if any coffee shops were open, as I had a caffeine headache. There weren't any, but there were some lovely views:

You can find the rest of the photos here - my phone is not exactly new or high quality, sadly!